COMECE: European Catholic Social DaysSolidarity: the challenge for Europe” is the theme of the first Catholic Social Days for Europe that COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) in promoting in Gdansk, city of Solidarnosc, from 8 to 11 October. “Each generation has to earn and consolidate freedom and peace for its own time. Our generation is certainly no exception”, says a statement put out by the press office of COMECE in announcing the event. “Today – continues the statement citing the Manifesto for the Catholic Social Days published by the preparatory committee in March -, eighty years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the world once again finds itself in the midst of a severe economic and financial crisis, which carries with it the potential for dangerous social and political consequences, including the temptation to revert to nationalism and protectionism”. That’s why, to overcome the crisis and ensure lasting peace, what’s needed is “a combination of personal and political values encapsulated in the term ‘solidarity'”. “Our meeting in Gdansk – promises COMECE – will offer the opportunity to explore the challenge of solidarity in Europe”. The date and the place of the first year of the Catholic Social Days “have a particular symbolic significance. They recall not only the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 and the end of the Communist regime in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989, but also the first visit of John Paul II to his native land in 1979, a visit that led to the birth in Gdansk of Solidarnosc, the social movement of millions of Poles”. Some 600 participants are expected to attend the event in Gdansk; the majority of them consist of delegates of the various Bishops’ Conferences; but also represented in Gdansk, says COMECE, will be the Catholic networks at the European level and the religious orders. Half of those present will be below the age of 35. The main speakers at the meeting, “which we are trying to organize in an ecumenical spirit”, explains the statement, will include Hans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin; Eveline Herfkens (coordinator for the UNO Millennium Goals campaign); Tunne Kelam and Alojs Peterle (MEPs); and Irena Lipowicz (Special Ambassador for German-Polish relations). Further info: www.comece.euSpain: Archbishop of Madrid on WYD2011“Rejoice in the privilege of bearing the Cross of Christ to show it to everyone without exceptions”, writes the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio M. Rouco Varela, in his Letter to Youth on the occasion of the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross in the archdiocese of Madrid, planned for 14 September, feast of the glorification of the Cross. The pilgrimage is being held in preparation for the celebration of WYD in Madrid in 2011. “Profit from this occasion – exhorts the cardinal – to live your Christian vocation with fidelity”, happy to “belong to Christ, Lord of life” and “don’t turn the cross into a banal, superficial or meaningless sign”. Rather, adds the cardinal, “may your life mark the path of truth, humility and obedience to the commandments of God”, without falling into the snares of the “attractions of this transient world, such as money, fame, power and mendacity”. “Prayer, catechesis, access to the sacraments and works of charity”, according to Cardinal Rouco Varela, will help to turn the path toward World Youth Day into an “event of extraordinary grace in which you will undoubtedly experience the meeting with Christ”. The pilgrimage of the Cross and of the icon of the Virgin Mary will begin with a prayer vigil on Monday, 14 September.France: celebrations for the 1100th anniversary of Cluny beginAfter the Mass at Cluny officiated by Mgr. Benoît Rivière, Bishop of Autun, Chalon and Mâcon, the twelve gates of the city will be symbolically opened to mark the start of the Year of celebrations of the 1100th anniversary of the Abbey of Cluny (910-2010) whose foundation marked a milestone for the spread of Christianity and the development of monasticism in medieval Europe. Though Cluny is renowned for its cultural and artistic treasures, “we want this anniversary to be especially a spiritual event”, says Mgr. Pierre Calimé, spokesman of the diocese of Autun-Chalon-Mâcon. “The great achievement of Cluny – he emphasises – is the life of the thousands of monks who obey the Rule of St. Benedict”; that’s why “Cluny 2010 must represent an occasion to rediscover what the heart of the abbey is: ‘Do you wish the true life?”. Recalling the virtues of the abbot of Cluny Saint Odo, recalled by Benedict XVI in his audience on 2 September, Mgr. Calimé says that the Benedictine Rule contains aspects and teachings that continue to hold good for laypeople today; hence the project of some workshops dedicated to it, as well as a conference on the Cluniac order. The events on the anniversary calendar include a solemn Mass for the Dead on 2 November, and the commemoration of St. Hugo, sixth abbot of the monastery, on 23 April 2010.
